Tomatoes, Tomahtos…

Just added to the line-up of our own produce, are CELEBRITY Tomatoes.  A robust flavored meaty center that is not quite like a beefsteak…but close.  Sold in quantity for savings or by-the-pound for your daily enjoyment!

Starting with the basics, tomatoes contain large amounts of vitamin C, providing 40 percent of the daily value (DV). They also contain 15 percent DV of vitamin A, 8 percent DV of potassium, and 7 percent of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of iron for women and 10 percent RDA for men.

The red pigment contained in tomatoes is called lycopene. This compound appears to act as an antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals that can damage cells in the body. Only recently, studies have revealed that lycopene may have twice the punch of another well-known antioxidant betacarotene. Studies conducted by Harvard researchers have discovered that men who consumed 10 servings of tomatoes a week, or the equivalent to 10 slices of pizza, can cut the risk of developing prostate cancer by a formidable 45 percent.

However, its benefits are not limited to the prostate. Italian researchers have found that those who consume more that 7 servings of raw tomatoes lower the risk of developing rectal colon or stomach cancers by 60 percent. Israeli researchers have found that lycopene is a powerful inhibitor of lung, breast, and endometrial cancer cells. Research has also indicated that the lycopene in tomatoes can help older people stay active longer.

New research is beginning to indicate that tomatoes may be used to help prevent lung cancer. Two powerful compounds found in tomatoes-coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid-are thought to block the effects of nitrosamines. These are compounds that not only are formed naturally in the body, but also are the strongest carcinogen in tobacco smoke. By blocking the effects of these nitrosamines, the chances of lung cancer are reduced significantly.

When choosing your tomatoes, be sure to pick those with the most brilliant shades of red. These indicate the highest amounts of betacarotene and lycopene. Though raw tomatoes are great for you, cooking them releases even more of the benefits. Lycopene is located in the cell wall of the tomato, so by cooking in a bit of oil, this healing compound is more fully released. In addition cooking the tomato in olive oil allows your body to absorb the lycopene better. Don’t worry about the availability of fresh tomatoes. Tomatoes don’t lose any of their nutritional value in the high heat processing , making canned tomatoes and tomato sauce are both just as viable and beneficial as fresh tomatoes.

Just Peachy

 

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We anticipate the arrival of Pennsylvania Red Haven Peaches by August 5th.  The Ohio crop did not fare well with the extended sub-zero temperatures during the winter.

Peaches are good for you, providing a good source of the antioxidant vitamins A and C. They are high in fiber, especially pectin, a soluble fiber that helps to lower high blood cholesterol. Most of the vitamins found in peaches are close to and in the skin. Therefore, instead of peeling a fresh peach, simply rinse it with a little cold water and eat the skin for the most nutritional benefits.

The fuzzy fruit is also a source of flavonoids and beta carotene; these two compounds may help prevent the growth of certain cancers. New varieties of peaches are being developed that will yield even greater levels of cancer-fighting antioxidants and phytochemicals.

 

Make Blueberries Part of Your Diet

Hillside Orchard and Farm Market Offers Pick Your Own Blueberries

Pick Your Own Blueberries

Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday we offer pick-your-own Blueberries in our 3/4 acre patch, July 15th through August (typically).  No sprays are used in the production of these amazing little round fruits!

From research labs all across the country and the world, there is growing evidence that blueberries could be powerful little disease fighters. Want to retain your memory? Try a blueberry. Lower your risk factors for some cancers? Make blueberries part of your diet. How about a great natural source of antioxidants for optimum health? That’s right, true blues.

The long list of health benefits associated with blueberries is becoming as well known among the general public as it has been for many years in the health and research communities and with professional growers. From Newsweek to the Wall Street Journal and beyond, it’s almost impossible now not to hear something good, make that great, about blueberries.

James Joseph, Ph.D., and his team at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University report that a diet of blueberries may improve motor skills and reverse the short-term memory loss that comes with aging. USDA animal trials showed improved navigational skills after a two-month diet of blueberry extract. Although other fruits and vegetables were studied, only blueberries were effective in improving motor skills.

Blueberries may reduce the build up of so called “bad” cholesterol that contributes to cardiovascular disease and stroke, according to scientists at the University of California at Davis. Antioxidants are believed to be the active component. Blueberries rank #1 in antioxidant activity when compared to 40 other fresh fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants help neutralize harmful by-products of metabolism called “free radicals” that can lead to cancer and other age related diseases. Anthocyanin — the pigment that makes the blueberries blue — is thought to be responsible for this major health benefit.

Though blueberries themselves are not a cure-all, they contain a number of substances which are thought to have health benefits. These substances include, but are not limited to fructose, fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. Antioxidants thus far, seem to have the most conclusive role in the prevention/ delaying of such diseases as cancer, heart disease and the aging process.